| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard Huangpu Shipyard |
| Operators: | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by: | Type 053H3 frigate |
| Succeeded by: | Type 054A frigate |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Active: | Ma'anshan Wenzhou |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: | 4,300 tons (full) |
| Length: | 134 m (440 ft)(CCTV) |
| Beam: | 16 m (52 ft) (CCTV) |
| Propulsion: | Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD), 4× SEMT Pielstick 16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each |
| Speed: | 27 kn (50 km/h) estimated |
| Range: | 8,025 nautical miles (14,900 km) estimated |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Type 363S (Thomson-CSF DRBV-15 Sea Tiger) 2D air/surface search radar, E/F band |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
Type 922-1 radar warning receiver |
| Armament: |
2× 4-cell YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship missiles |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 Kamov Ka-28 'Helix' or Harbin Z-9C |
| Aviation facilities: | hangar |
The Type 054 (NATO Codename Jiangkai I) frigate is a Chinese multi-role warship that entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy in the mid-2000s. They superseded the Type 053H3 frigates. Two ships, 525 Ma'anshan, and 526 Wenzhou, were completed before production switched to the improved Type 054A frigate.
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The Type 054 has a stealthy hull design with sloped surfaces, radar absorbent materials, and a reduced superstructure clutter.
The main anti-ship armament were YJ-83 sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missiles in two four-cell launchers. It retained the HQ-7 SAM, an improved version of the French Crotale, from the preceding Type 053H3; the HQ-7 had a ready-to-fire 8-cell launcher, with 16 stored in the automatic reloader. Short range defence was improved with four AK-630 CIWS turrets. A 100 mm main gun, also based on a French design, was mounted.
Both ships were powered by four CODAD Type 16 PA6 STC marine diesel engines designed by SEMT Pielstick, each generating 6,330 hp. Licenses for the engines were sold to China in April 2002, where they were built by the Shaanxi Diesel Engine Factory. Other reports claimed each ship was powered by two (or four) Type 16 PA STC and two MTU 20V 956TB92 diesels.
The Type 054 resembled the French La Fayette-class frigates in shape and displacement. In addition, the Chinese used French, or French-derived, electronics and weapons. The French exported these systems to China in the 1980s, and later granted production licences. These systems were similar to those used on the La Fayettes in the 1980s.
The succeeding Type 054A frigates incorporated a larger proportion of more-advanced indigenous systems.
Ma'anshan and Wenzhou deployed from Zhoushan on 21 February 2011 to undertake an anti-piracy patrol off Somalia. They were the eighth such Chinese patrol[1] and designated Task Force 526. Commodore Han Xiaohu commanded the flotilla from Wenzhou.[2] En route the flotilla made a stop at Karachi, before setting sail again on 13 March 2011.[3] The ships were joined by replenishment ship 886 Qiandaohu, which was already deployed with the preceding flotilla.[1]
525 Ma'anshan was laid down at Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in 2002. It was launched in September 2003 and entered service with the East Sea Fleet in February 2005. Its first captain was Commander Wang Xianzhong (王獻忠).
526 Wenzhou was built at the Huangpu Shipyard in Guangzhou. It was launched in November 2003 and entered service with the East Sea Fleet in September 2006.